World Photo by Madeline Steege Chris von Lobedan, former pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Coos Bay, talks about recycling parts of the soon-to-be-demolished structure. The church’s siding, which is old-growth fir, will become part of a shop on von Lobedan's property. Other materials have been donated to Habitat for Humanity.

A local contractor soon will tear down the First Presbyterian Church of Coos Bay, but pieces of it will remain throughout the community and at the site.

Habitat for Humanity has taken doors, bannisters, commodes and sink set-ups. Coos County Master Gardeners removed plants that have surrounded the church. And a previous pastor plans to incorporate windows and siding into a shop he's building.

"I like to build from salvaged materials," said Chris von Lobedan, who led the local congregation from 1992 to 2005. "I get it, then decide what to do with it,"

He took a week off from work at Shutter Creek Correctional Institution to work with Habitat for Humanity members, firefighters and others to strip materials from the 57-year-old building.

Inmates from Shutter Creek helped remove more than 2,500 pounds of items that Habitat will be able to resell at its store, said Kathy Kebler, executive director of the local office.

The building is set to come down Monday morning to make way for the city's new main fire station.

The new hall also will pay tribute to the church that stands on the lot between Elrod and Donnelley avenues, said Fire Chief Stan Gibson. Salvagers have saved hardwood flooring from the fellowship hall, with plans to use it in the fire station. Workers also saved a mountain ash that was planted in memorial of a long-time church member.

"We'll be utilizing that in our landscaping," Gibson said.

The Presbyterian congregation, which has relocated into temporary quarters offered by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, has saved several things from the old church, including stained glass windows.

Kortney Johnson, Johnson Rock Products project manager for the demolition work, said he's been impressed by how much people have salvaged.

Johnson and his workers will set up security fencing today and move in their equipment Friday. He expects to be able to knock down the structure in a single day, with debris removal and site preparation taking another couple weeks. The construction contract to build the estimated $4.5 million fire hall project is scheduled to be awarded in July.

Von Lobedan enjoyed touring the church last week. Its pews are gone, the floors ripped up and doorways gaping empty, but it's still a rush of memories walking into the different rooms.

"The personalities and people is what I think about when I see these things," he said.